I think Melinda did a fine job tonight but she has to come up with that special “WOW” that Paula wants from her.

Both Blake and Lakisha struggled but they were not awful.

Talk about boring – I think Simon would rather be somewhere else.

Phil never got the pimp spot. Well maybe when it was Top 24. I really missed him tonight.

Also, Mandy Moore has a song that Jordin can sing called “17″…

The ’17′ theme couldn’t be any worse than Beegees or Bon Jovi night.

Thatà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢â€ž ¢s not true. Both Melinda and Jordin have been last 3 times. And Jordin is the only one to have been last 3 times in the finals. Lakisha has been last twice and Blake has been last once.

Meanwhile, Melinda and Blake have been first twice. Jordin has only been first once and has never gone first in the finals.

In other words, in the finals Jordin has had 33% of the pimp spots and 0% of the death spots. On average, Jordin gets the pimp spot every third week.

That is why people are upset.

I really love when Kirsten straight up tells the FACTS. Go Kirsten!

Is it possible for Jordin to sing anything other than a ballad????? And even thenà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦IMHOà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦.not very well most of the time.

But Damn she is only 17à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦.so that must count for somethingà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬ ¦at least that is what the judges want us to believe.

Man, Bax… I don’t see you post much anymore, but damn, when you do, you’re straight to the point!!! Baxter is my friend.

I think the rules might even allow that clever little tune from the Sound of Music, even though she’s no longer 16 GOING on 17.

Well, taken. I do agree Jordin appears to the “chosen” one.

Next week songs Jordin should sing for sure are:

“Strawberry Wine (at 17)” – by Deana Carter

“The Edge of Seventeen” by Stevie Nicks

“I’m not a girl, not yet a woman” by Brittney Spears

Of course, every now and then that assumption (predetermined by post Idol record sales) backfires as Daughtry is murdering Taylor HIcks on the charts now.

But Damn she is only 17….so that must count for something…at least that is what the judges want us to believe.

This season has been watchable but not even in the same stratosphere as last season.

I am a LONG TIME reader (and admirer) of MJ’s Big Blog; but I’ve never posted before. Tonight’s show compelled me.

I will admit, I am a biased Elliott Yamin fan. I thought he got RIPPED in the semi’s last year. BUt still, at least last year the season was compelling. THis season it’s been anything but. Maybe that’ just me because last year I had Elliott (Carrie the year before) so every season I had someone to really root for, and this year I don’t.

Here are my feelings about the Final Four (Briefly)
Lakisha: She’ll make her mark in music. Good producers will find her the right songs. She’ll be marketable, I think she’s going to do really good over a long period of time.

Melinda: I love her to death and she NEVER messes up a note. But I dont think she has the kind of voice that will appeal long term in this market. I think she has one album that will do alright, and then she’ll kind of fade away (but not totally)

Blake: I could certainly UNDERSTAND why he has so many fans, especially on a show like Idol. And for this show, he’s “creative”. but in the post-Idol life, I dont think his style will fly. Interestingly, or maybe ironically, I think he’s actually a better singer than most. Some beat boxing is cool, but tonight showed it gets old fast and there are hunreds of great beat boxers out there who are like him and don’t cut it in the business. He needs a lot of work– but I could see him making an impact.

Jordin: I’ve already said I think she will win, and its because I think far and away she will have a HUGE career. I can see her being every big as KElly Clarkson has become. .She has the perfect voice for radio and at only 17 she’s a hell of a performer. Once she learns to not oversing every note she’s going to be spectacular; Im talking “Best new artist of 2007-08″ Grammy winner.

I dont like ALL her performances this year; but the one’s she’s nailed she’s been head and shoulders above the rest.

Sadly, I wish Elliott Yamin had waited one more year to live his Idol dream, because he would’ve OWNED this season.

I much preferred Blake’s second song although I wish he had sung it straight. Beatboxing for both songs probably not the best choice as like longsong said, a little goes a long way and we’ve only heard one song at a time up until now so it doesn’t seem so forced, KWIM?

Once again, a mentor tells Lakisha to do something and she chooses her own way. Barry Gibb told her to go high (ala the male falsetto) on the “Ah-ah-ah-ah-stayin’ alive” part of the chorus and she stays low. And then that funky off-beat bit was interesting…but the song overall just lagged.

Jordin was back, esp. in the first song. High praise from Barry Gibb to call it the best rendition he’s ever heard. I thought she bordered on screetchy on the 2nd song but it wasn’t horrible.

I think the popularity of Melinda, Blake and Jordin mean Lakisha is out. She was just ho-hum and ho-hum can’t save someone if they don’t have a strong fanbase.